Features

The new Los Alamos County Administrator, Harry Burgess, will be the featured speaker at the League of Women Voters Lunch with a Leader from 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Feb. 9. The public is invited to this event at the Central Avenue Grill.
Burgess was appointed Los Alamos County administrator in October 2011. Prior to this appointment, he worked in the governmental sector within New Mexico for more than 17 years.
Burgess’s educational background covers a variety of areas related to local government. He holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial relations (personnel/organizational management), a master’s degree in fire and emergency management administration, a master’s degree in business administration and a doctorate in economic development.

In a letter released from the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars and the United States Department of Education, eight Los Alamos High School students were selected as 2012 candidates for the United States Presidential Scholars Program.
The U. S. Presidential Scholars Program was created in 1964 by executive order of the president to recognize and honor some of our nation’s most distinguished graduating seniors.
In 1979, the program was expanded to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional scholarship and talent in the visual, creative and performing arts.

On Jan. 24, Army Spc. Kyle Beery presented the NJROTC with a flag flown over Camp Ramadi, Iraq on Aug. 30, 2011. Beery was serving in Camp Ramadi with Bravo Co., 1-325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division at the time this flag was flown. Along with the flag was a certificate of authenticity, with signatures from commanding officer Lt. Col. Charles Masaracchia. Beery is seen here presenting the flag to NJROTC instructor Lt. Cmdr. Wes Shumaker, while Gunnery Sgt. Bret Painter, also an NJROTC instructor, holds the certificate. Beery was a member of the unit all of his four years at LAHS. He is on leave from Ft. Bragg, N.C. for two weeks.

The Los Alamos Animal Shelter, 226 East Road, 662-8179, has a great selection of on-site adoptable pets; others are in foster care with loving, temporary homes.
Be sure to click on the Friends of the Shelter website, lafos.org. You can volunteer and/or donate, as well as check out links to all our adoptable pals.
Thank you to the community of Los Alamos and the Los Alamos Monitor staff for the outstanding support you give to the animals lovingly cared for in the shelter.

DOGS

Louie — A sweet-natured older gentleman. He’s a Lab-cross, well behaved with simple needs like ear scratches and tummy rubs.

The Raymond G. Murphy VA Medical Center invites the public to participate in open-house activities Feb. 12-18 during the National Salute to Veteran Patients.
“The National Salute to Veteran Patients gives everyone a chance to let those who have given so much to our nation know that they are not forgotten,” said Sonja Brown, chief of Voluntary Service and Public Affairs for the New Mexico VA Health Care System.
“We want people of all ages to bring Valentine’s Day cheer throughout that week for our patients.”
Brown said she hopes visitors also will learn more about the roles volunteers play at the medical center throughout the year and perhaps pursue volunteer opportunities.

On Wednesday, Los Alamos High School staff members recognized the efforts made by Assistant Principal Mike Johnson during the construction phase. They presented him with balloons, a six-pack of Pepsi Max and a note of thanks.
LAHS Registrar Dena Brent said Johnson kept his calm demeanor during the construction. “It would take a saint to do all this,” she said.
In addition, librarian Ken Holmes said, “He did a very good job of coordinating.
Maire O’Neill added, “he never appeared frustrated or raised his voice. He’s respectful and kind and looks to make the day better for his employees.”
In addition to the balloons and soda, Johnson was serenaded by Bel Canto.

Join Habitat for Humanity for the commemoration and dedication of the 600th Habitat House in New Mexico at 1 p.m. Feb. 3 in the New Mexico State Capitol Building Rotunda.
Following the Capitol Rotunda activities, there will be a dedication and celebration of the milestone event.
The event will be at 4 p.m. at the home of Habitat Partner Family, Umberto Mendoza and Debbie Montoya in the Tierra Contenta Community, 7252 Vuelta de la Luz, Santa Fe.
Anticipated attendees and invited guests for both events are: Habitat for Humanity Affiliates throughout the state of New Mexico; and local, state and federal officials; media representatives; volunteers; individual donors; as well as funding organizations.

Pajarito Environmental Education Center and Petra McDowell will offer a gentle family snowshoe outing under the (almost) full moon at 4:30 p.m.
Feb. 4.
The hike will start at the lodge at Pajarito Mountain and is free and open to the public. Snowshoes can be rented from the Walkup Aquatic Center.
Snowshoeing is a sport that even the youngest trekkers can enjoy. And when better to take to the snow than when it’s glinting in the light of a full moon?
McDowell will lead families up the Sherwood Forest Trail to the top of the beginner lift and down the road to Camp May, where they’ll gather around a campfire to share books and hot chocolate.

On World Book Night, April 23, one million books will be given away in the United States.
As a result, Otowi Station Bookstore is looking for “book givers” to help get books into the hands of people who are nonreaders or infrequent readers, or who are underserved because of income, location or other reasons.
Los Alamos coordinator Ellen Ben-Naim, the children’s book buyer at Otowi Station said, “A committee of booksellers and librarians chose the 30 titles to be given away.

Piano, violin, cello, a jazz band, guitar, vocal performance and even hula are not what one would expect to see under one roof, but it’s all happening at this year’s University of New Mexico-Los Alamos Music Marathon. The marathon will be from 1-7:45 p.m. Sunday in the UNM-LA Student Center. The event is free and open to everyone. Donations will help transform the Building 2 Lecture Hall into a performance space through the purchase of a portable stage.
Pianist, local music teacher and longtime UNM-LA faculty member Juanita Madland organized the first marathon. This year, local pianist Rheta Moazzami assisted her.

The Los Alamos Visiting Nurse Service Hospice Program is having their annual “Daffodils for Hospice” sale.
Proceeds from the sale support the Los Alamos Visiting Nurse Service Hospice program serving terminally ill individuals in Los Alamos County, Rio Arriba County and parts of Northern Santa Fe County.
Daffodil pre-orders are being taken now through March 2. A vase of daffodils with 20 stems may be ordered for $15; a vase with 10 stems costs $10 or a single bunch (10 stems) may be purchased for $5.
Delivery is free with a minimum of two bunches, or one vase, to a single address. Flowers will be delivered March 10 or may be picked up at the VNS office (116 Central Park Square) between 3-5:30 p.m. March 8 or all day March 9.

The Assets Award-winning Dawn Brown, her staff and volunteers, burned the midnight oil Friday and pulled off yet another year of science for the Los Alamos Public Schools.
Brown, along with 11 committee members and curriculum department members Tess Daughton, Megan Lee and Kathy Weinman, allowed the district to shine on Saturday with the annual County Science Fair.
The registration process, venue and science efforts were visible from the start.
“To know we are reaching out to encourage district students in the sciences, engineering and technology means we are sparking an interest in LAPS students,” Brown said.

What an Asset building week in Los Alamos!
We kicked the events off with the annual Science Fair, which is an enormous feat put on by a committee represented by all Los Alamos Public School sites and includes the Home School Community.
We continue with a Los Alamos Middle School edition of Cookies and Conversation, where adults have lunch with students and discuss light-hearted topics.
Oh and by the way, the Rachel’s Challenge speaker for last week, came down with a nasty bout of stomach flu. We are working to reschedule.

Frijoles Canyon through Bandelier National Monument endured monumental floods following the Las Conchas fire.
Join the Los Alamos Mountaineers to hear exactly what happened and what is being done to bring the park back.
At 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Fuller Lodge, National Park Service Superintendent Jason Lott will speak about impacts of last summer’s fire on Bandelier National Monument, discuss the marijuana garden eradication, the bus program and plans for 2012. His talk is titled, “How I Spent My Summer.”
All the major watersheds in Bandelier were impacted by the fire, including Frijoles Canyon, where the visitor center and main visited archeological sites are located.

The Los Alamos National Christian Forensic Communication Association Speech and Debate Guild, on behalf of the NCFCA Region 3 Qualifying Speech and Debate Tournament competitors and staff, would like to thank Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church for hosting our recent New Mexico Qualifier.
Thanks also to the Los Alamos Monitor for their coverage of the event, and to the many, wonderful community judges who volunteered their time to judge the young people as they sought to hone their public speaking skills.

The Los Alamos Animal Shelter, 226 East Road, 662-8179, has a great selection of on-site adoptable pets; others are in foster care with loving, temporary homes.
Be sure to click on the Friends of the Shelter website, lafos.org. You can volunteer and/or donate, as well as check out links to all our adoptable pals.
Thank you to the community of Los Alamos and the Los Alamos Monitor staff for the outstanding support you give to the animals lovingly cared for in the shelter.

DOGS

Louie — A sweet-namtured older gentleman. He’s a Lab-cross, well behaved with simple needs like ear scratches and tummy rubs.